Boat



July 1 2, 1927. I 1,635,854

W. MILLER BOAT Filed Dec. 16, 1925 Inventor Attorney Patented July l2, 1927.

WILLIAM MILLER, OFBLAIR, NEBRASKA.

Boar.

The present invention relates to improvements inboats, and is more particularly adapted to a scow. wherein the same includes a'means for cleaning drainage ditches whereby the running water will be adapted to caryoif the mud silt. ,Y

"A further object is to provide a boat of the above"mentioned character .which is Caused'to traverse over a sand bar'whereby l thesand is loosened andcaused to flow down a river or stream, thus removing such obstructions'and' permitting a new channel to be formed in theiiver. j

A further object isto provide a boat of l the.'above mentioned character' which is simple i'n'A construction, inexpensive, strong, andjdural'ile, and further wel]A adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. t

Other objects and advantages of the 1nventionaswill` .become ,apparent during `the course'of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts shown in section of my improved boat.

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the paddles showing the manner in which the same is mounted on the boat, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail of the guide means provided for the paddles.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved boat, the same being of the flat bottomed type, the ends thereof being inclined inwardly toward the bottom as is clearly shown in Figure 1. The top of the boat is cut away at each end as illustrated at 2 to accommodate the transversely extending shafts 3 and 4 respectively. The ends of each shaft are journaled to the respective sides of the boat in any suitable manner.

A series of sprocket wheels such as are shown at 5 are arranged on each of the transversely extending shafts. These sprocket wheels are arranged in pairs, and preferably three of such pairs are provided for a purpose to be presently apparent. The recesses or curved portions 2 permit the sprocket wheels to extend outwardly of the Application led December 16, 1925. Serial No. 75,730.`

top of the boat at the ends thereof as clearly shown in Figure 1.

An additional sprocket wheel 6 is secured on the intermediate portion of eachshaft and adaptedto be trainedthereover is,l a drive sprocket chain 7 the opposite.` end being trained over a similar sprocket .wheel which is mounted on the respectiveendsof the drive shaft of any suitablemotor desig nated generally by the numeral 8l and which is. mounted within the boat in any suitable manner.

Suitable sprocket chains 8 and 9 are trained over each ypair of aligned sprocket wheels which are mounted on the transverse shafts Sand 4, and as is clearly illustrated in the drawing, these sprocket chains ex-` tend completely around the top, bottom, and

respective ends of the Vboat in an endless' manner. i" V Y 'A seriesof paddle blades, such as are shown at 10 extend transversely across the spaced :sprocket chains 8 and 9 of each pair and the sprocket chains are secured to the lower edges `of the blades as indicated generally at 11 whereby the blades are disposed at right angles with respect to the sprocket chains. Furthermore the blades orv panels are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other.

Depending from the lower edge of each panel blade adjacent the respective ends thereof are the legs 12 and 13 respectively. Lateral extensions 14 are formed on the opposed sides of the lower end of each of the leg members, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

Suitable rollers 15 are mounted on the outer ends of the lateral extensions 14, and these rollers travel in the channeled guide Atracks 16 which are provided therefor, and

which tracks encircle the boat in the same manner as do the endless sprocket chains 8 and 9. This construction provides means whereby the endless chains are held adjacent the top, bottom, and respective ends of the boat in order to increase the eiiciency of the operation of the paddle blades when the boatis in use.

Certain rivers, such` as the Missouri River for example, wash away large tracts of land, thereby causing bends to be formed in the river, and naturally the forcen of the water will in time wash away the projecting portions of the land, thus causing a considerable loss as tending to change the course or channel of the river. It the channel was straight, this would not occur, and there'l'ore the sole object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whereby straight channels may be tornied in a river.

In use, my beat is adapted to travel ferwardly and backwardly across a sand bar, and during the propulsion ot the boat, the series of paddle bladesI l() will travel in an endlefs manner areinnl the b.:at,'and as the paddle blades come in contact with the sand bar, the latter will be gradually and etlieiently disintegratedd1 and the sand which has been loosened troni Vthe bar by the action et the blades will be washed down these streams by the action et the water, and in this inanner, a new channel will he termed in the river. The paddle blades do not in realitv exeavate, but tendto stir up the sand and cause the saine to beeoine ceniinnled with the water se that the water will carryv the saine olf and prevent the 'further accumulation in a certain spot in the river bed.

Also, a boat et the above enaracl'cr can be etliciently used in cleaning` drainage ditches to carry ol'l' the inud and silt. It is of course understood that the boat is incre efliciently used when the water is high.

Thile I have shown the preferred enibodinient of my invention it is to be understood that niinor changes in the size, shape, and arrangement ot parts may be resorted to without departing troni the spirit et the invention and the scope of the appended clain'i. i

lflavingr thus described the invention, what l claiin as new is:-

A flat bottomed boat, the ends` thereof beingr inclined inwardly toward the bottoni, transversely entenzlngl rotatade shafts journaled in the upper portion o the beat adjacent the respective ends thereof, sprocket ,vbeels mounted on each shaft and arranged in pairs the top ot the boat providedwvith cut out portions through which the sprocket wheels are adapted to extend, sprocket chains trained over the aligning sprocket wheels et each pair and encircling lthe top, bottoni, and ends of the boat, a series et paddle blades extending,r transversel)7 across each pair oi sprocket chains and secured at their lower edges thereto` channeled tracks arranged in pairs around the boatadjacent euch respective pair eff sprocket chains, leg' .nienibers depending `frein each of the paddle blades, and rollers carried by the lower ends et the leg inenibers and adapted to travel. in the channel tracks. l

ln testimony whereof I allix niy signature.

VILLIAM MILLER. 

